2026 Celebrating the Black Experience Exhibition Catalog

THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESENTS

April 17 - June 18, 2026

PRESENTS

CELEBRATING THE BLACK EXPERIENCE

April 17 - June 18, 2026

The Celebrating the Black Experience exhibition brings together artists whose work reflects the depth, complexity, and creativity of Black life across generations and geographies.

Now in its fifth year, the project invited artists to submit works that reflect the diverse environments, histories, and traditions shaping the fabric of the Black experience. Through painting, sculpture, fiber art, mixed media, and photography, these artists explore memory, identity, spirituality, struggle, and joy. Their works show how art functions not only as aesthetic expression but also as a vital space for storytelling, cultural preservation, and imagination. Together, the artists in this exhibition demonstrate that the Black experience is not a single narrative, but a rich constellation of voices, histories, and visions shaping our shared cultural landscape.

This year’s exhibition features 28 artists, aged 25 to 94, representing communities across the United States and the African diaspora. Participating artists come from Baltimore, Maryland; Lakeland, Florida; Leominster, Massachusetts; Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; Jeffersonville, Indiana; Louisville, Lexington, Radcliff, and Goshen, Kentucky; as well as Benin, West Africa, and Harare, Zimbabwe.

The works on display span a wide range of media, including fiber art, textiles, copper art, acrylic and oil paintings, charcoal and pencil drawings, air-dry clay, papier-mâché, and mixed-media works incorporating innovative materials.

In partnership with the Kentucky Arts Council, the exhibition will tour communities across Kentucky from July through December 2026, expanding opportunities for audiences throughout the Commonwealth to engage with the work of these remarkable artists.

Aukram Burton

Executive Director & Co-Curator

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage

Support for this program provided in part by: Brown-Forman

Kentucky Arts Council

Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

Metro Louisville

Artwork on Cover: Freedom Over Me, Ronnita Nance

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE

From the 1920s through the 1950s, Old Walnut Street in downtown Louisville served as a vibrant center of African American culture and commerce. Black-owned businesses flourished, and theaters and music venues attracted audiences from across the region. Although urban renewal in the 1950s disrupted much of this thriving district, the legacy of Old Walnut Street remains a vital part of Louisville’s cultural memory.

In 1994, the African American Heritage Foundation (AAHF) was established to preserve historic sites, communities, and cultural landmarks connected to the African American experience. Early efforts focused on protecting historic structures and installing markers that recognize significant locations throughout Louisville’s Black communities.

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage represents the next chapter in this preservation work, expanding its mission to include education, cultural revitalization, and artistic expression. Evolving from the Louisville and Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee, the Center provides a space where spoken word artists, visual artists, performers, and scholars can collaborate and share the rich cultural traditions of African Americans.

The Heritage Center’s campus occupies the historic Louisville Street Railway Complex, the site of an important struggle for transportation equality beginning in 1876. Today, the renovated 55,000-square-foot facility raises public awareness of the history and cultural contributions of African Americans in Kentucky and throughout the African diaspora.

Located at 18th Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the Center overlooks the area once known as Old Walnut Street. Through exhibitions, performances, and community programming, the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage continues to honor this legacy while serving as a vibrant cultural hub for future generations.

OUR MISSION

Preserving the past. Inspiring the future.

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage seeks to expand public understanding of the history, heritage, and cultural contributions of African Americans in Kentucky and throughout the African diaspora.

Through its exhibitions, programs, and community partnerships, the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage continues to honor the past while amplifying the voices, creativity, and cultural vision shaping the future.

B. DEATONNE JOHNSON

B. Deatonne Johnson is a photographer with over forty years of experience capturing visual stories through his lens. His work reflects a lifelong passion for both artistic expression and technical curiosity, blending the sensibilities of an artist with the inquisitiveness of a self-described “geek.” Over the years, Johnson has developed a unique approach that transforms original photographs into abstract, impressionistic, or canvas-based pieces meant to be both visually engaging and meaningful in their display spaces. Johnson’s creative process often starts with an image that resonates deeply with him. Through careful interpretation and transformation, he reimagines these photographs into artworks that highlight mood, texture, and visual impact while keeping the story within the original image. A constant source of inspiration for Johnson’s artistic journey is Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

This verse has served as a personal mantra, guiding his dedication to creativity, craftsmanship, and purpose. After decades of photographic exploration, Johnson continues to produce work that celebrates the power of imagery to capture moments, evoke emotion, and tell stories that go beyond the frame.

RUNNING IN FEAR OF THE NIGHT

BARBARA TYSON MOSLEY

Barbara Tyson Mosley has been an abstract painter and fiber artist for over 40 years. She gained gallery representation while living in Washington, D.C., at the Evans-Tibbs Collection and Parish Gallery. After relocating to Louisville, she was represented by Swanson-Reed and Zephyr Galleries. Her work has been shown throughout the U.S. and Canada and is included in permanent collections at the San Bernardino Museum of Fine Arts in Redlands, California; the National Gallery of Art (Evans-Tibbs Collection) in Washington, D.C.; the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia; and the PNC Bank Tower Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additionally, her work has traveled extensively with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibitions Service (SITES). In Kentucky and Indiana, she has exhibited at the Berea Arts Council in Berea, KY; the Danville Community Art Center in Danville, KY; a solo exhibition at The Carnegie Library in Henderson, KY (2010); The Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, IN (2019); and the Actors Theatre African-American Art Exhibition Juried Shows in Louisville, KY (2010-2019), where she received the Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mueller Award in 2010 as well as Brown-Foreman Purchase Awards in 2018 and 2019. She holds a B.A. in Studio Arts/Painting from the University of the District of Columbia, an M.A.L.S. in Humanities with a focus on 20th Century Art History from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed coursework for an M.F.A. in Design from George Washington University, where she received The Julian A. Singman Prize in Design. In 1998, she was the Artist-in-Residence at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont.

DARRYL TUCKER

Darryl M. Tucker is a visual artist born and raised in Louisville’s West End, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children. Known for his vibrant finger-painted acrylic works, Tucker enjoys the direct connection he has with the canvas through the physical act of painting. His style is partly inspired by contemporary artist Amoako Boafo, whose expressive finger-painting techniques showcase the artist’s hand marks and gestures. Tucker studied art at the University of Louisville, where he learned charcoal techniques from artist Mark Priest. His work has been exhibited at The Moremen Gallery, KMAC Contemporary Art Museum, Gateway Regional Art Center, and the Elmer Lucille Allen Gallery at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. He was also chosen to design and decorate two fiberglass statues for the Gallopalooza Sidewalk Derby, a public art project displayed throughout Louisville. Besides his studio work, Tucker hosts community painting events called Painting with Tuck, where he guides both youth and adults in creative expression.

36”x

$4,000

DEBRA HARLEY

Debra Harley is a fiber artist and lifelong learner based in Louisville, Kentucky. Her quilt work reflects a deep respect for the generations of women whose hand-stitching traditions preserved stories, skills, and self-sufficiency within families and communities. Through her textiles, Harley honors this legacy while exploring contemporary approaches to sustainability by incorporating both vintage and modern fabrics into original quilt designs. A self-taught, emerging artist, Harley brings more than thirty years of experimentation and practice to her work. Her quilts blend traditional craftsmanship with personal storytelling, reflecting both cultural memory and environmental awareness. Harley has presented solo exhibitions in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Louisville, Kentucky, and has participated in group shows at the Elmer Lucille Allen Gallery at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and the KMAC Contemporary Art Museum. Her work is part of private collections around the world. She is a grant recipient of the Great Meadows Foundation and plans to continue her artistic research in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2026. Harley is currently collaborating with fellow artists on the Limerick Story Quilt, a community project supported by the Kentucky Arts Council.

NFS

DEMETRIUS BRADFORD

Demetrius Bradford is a visual artist born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, with deep roots in the West End. Bradford creates oil paintings that explore light, color, shape, and form through a disciplined, process-driven approach. His practice combines formal training with lived experience. He studied at the University of Louisville and the Hite Institute of Fine Arts. He also apprenticed with Louisville artist Charles Rice while remaining largely self-taught through ongoing practice and exploration. Working mainly in oil paint, Bradford favors a methodical process of building images in layers, shifting from dark to light, and applying paint gradually thicker. Bradford has exhibited in community shows and at artist fairs, including sales at the St. James Court Art Show and participation in local events like the Greenhouse artist series. His work has been shown at E&S Galleries and featured in special series such as a winery showcase. He has also participated in the Afro Soul and Art Summer Series, connecting his art with community-based creative projects. Besides exhibitions, Bradford is a commissioned artist with many works in private collections. Committed to giving back through art, Bradford has donated paintings to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (LAC Chapter) and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He has also contributed to public art projects, including a large mural for the former Cole’s Place in Louisville’s West End.

$2,200

DEREK KING JR.

From drawing to painting, tattoos, and beyond, multidisciplinary artist Derek King Jr. creates windows into his world that invite viewers to celebrate or question, while also raising awareness of various popular cultures in the United States— including hip hop/rap, anime, and film, with a focus on American family life. Hailing from Lexington, KY, he draws from personal and communal experiences to tell the stories of the voiceless, with representation playing a key role. Although he employs different techniques across his work, his distinctive pictorial style remains consistently recognizable. Derek studied at the University of Kentucky, earning his BFA with a focus on drawing and painting. Since completing his BFA, Derek has held solo exhibitions in Kentucky and participated in numerous group shows throughout the Midwest. He currently resides in Lexington, KY, working as a tattoo artist, muralist, and graphic designer—wearing many hats.

$1,260

ELMER LUCILLE ALLEN

Glazed Hand-built Porcelain

5”x 9”

$300

Elmer Lucille Allen is a pioneering Louisville chemist, artist, and community leader whose work links science, creativity, and civic engagement. She attended Louisville Municipal College before earning degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from Nazareth College in 1953. In 1966, Allen made history as the first African American chemist hired by Brown-Forman. Over the next thirty years, she advanced to the role of Senior Analytical Chemist, retiring in 1996 after a distinguished career. After leaving science, Allen focused more on the arts. She earned a Master of Arts in Ceramics and Fiber from the University of Louisville in 2002, expanding her work in fiber and ceramic art. Her art has been exhibited throughout Kentucky, including early shows at Kentucky State University and Berea College. In recognition of her lifetime achievements in science, art, and civic leadership, Spalding University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2024. Allen also played a key role in strengthening Louisville’s cultural landscape. She founded the Chickasaw Little League in 1969 and served as President of the Kentucky Coalition for African American Artists, organizing conferences and publishing directories to highlight Black artists across the region. For twelve years, she managed exhibitions at Wayside Expressions Gallery. Her volunteer work includes contributions to the Louisville Central Community Center, the Commission on Public Art, the Frazier History Museum’s Women’s Suffrage Committee, the Chickasaw Book Committee, and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she continues studying ceramics at the University of Louisville. Her legacy of science, creativity, and community service continues to inspire future generations, reflected in the gallery named after her and the annual Celebrating the Black Experience exhibit held in her honor.

HELEN ELLIS

Helen Ellis creates artwork that celebrates African American history and culture. Her work features expressive mixed-media portraits of luminous figures from the African American experience, blending history, storytelling, and visual expression. Drawing inspiration from her deep interest in both African American history and fine art, Ellis mainly works with mixed media, soft pastels, and collage as key elements of her artistic practice. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey—often called “Brick City”—Ellis developed a passion for art at an early age. She attended Newark Arts High School and pursued her arts education further at Rutgers University in Newark. After taking a break from her art to raise her family, Ellis returned to her studio in 2018 with renewed creative energy and focus. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and shows across the United States, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Recent exhibitions include Open Studio in Hartford, Connecticut; The Essence of a Woman at MVA Gallery in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; The Seed and the Sower at the Arts Council of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Your Place at the Table at 311 Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina; Diversity Lives Here at the Monmouth University Center for the Arts in New Jersey; and Art as a Voice at the Coppell Art Center in Texas. Ellis currently lives and works in Massachusetts.

$400

J. EVERETT YOUNG

J. Everett Young is a Louisville-based visual artist, illustrator, and educator with over twenty years of professional experience. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Bowie State University, he works in both traditional and digital media, combining fine art, animation, and cultural storytelling. Young’s work conveys stories through drawing, painting, and digital art. He is especially interested in animated bringing to life historical moments and cultural narratives through thorough research and attention to detail. Whether creating graphite drawings, painting historical scenes, or producing animations, he aims to craft images that connect with audiences while respecting the stories they depict. His recent commissions include historical paintings for the Maryland Historical Society celebrating African American history. In addition to his studio work, Young has led creative teams at OVFX Animation Studio and directed animated content for HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness. Committed to arts education, he has also spent years teaching K–8 students in Washington, DC, and Denver, Colorado. As a versatile visual artist, he works across traditional painting, character design, and 3D environmental art. Through this diverse creative practice, Young produces images that are both technically skilled and emotionally impactful, inviting viewers into worlds that are at once historical, cultural, and imaginative.

JEANNE PAULE DE SOUZA

Jeanne Paule Gouvide de Souza is a Vodoun priestess, tour guide, and visionary artist from Benin, West Africa, whose creative practice is deeply rooted in her spiritual tradition. Guided by ancestral wisdom and universal energies, her work reflects a profound connection to the sacred world of Vodoun spirituality. As an artist, Jeanne Paule approaches painting as a spiritual act of channeling rather than a purely technical process. When she creates, she often enters a meditative or trance-like state, allowing herself to become a vessel through which messages from spirits, ancestors, and the unseen universe are expressed. Her paintings emerge as intuitive compositions of color, form, and sacred symbolism, revealing stories and spiritual insights that transcend conscious intention. In addition to her artistic practice, Jeanne Paule works as a cultural guide, sharing the rich history and living traditions of Vodoun with visitors to Benin. Through both her art and spiritual work, she serves as a bridge between visible and invisible worlds, honoring ancestral knowledge while fostering awareness and spiritual reflection. The painting presented here depicts Lègba, the sacred messenger in Vodoun who stands at the crossroads between the human and divine realms, opening pathways of communication between worlds. Through this painting, the artist channels his protective power and sacred energy, transmitting a message of spiritual security and connection.

JES ALLEN

Jes Allen is a mixed media artist and curator based in Louisville, Kentucky. Her work investigates visual pareidolia—the human tendency to find meaning and images within random patterns. Using vibrant colors, layered textures, and a sense of controlled chaos, Allen lets paint and materials guide her creative process, revealing faces, figures, and symbolic shapes that emerge from her compositions. She spent her early childhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina, before moving to Kentucky during her teenage years. Her artistic foundation was shaped by a childhood immersed in creative expression and mentorship from professional artists in her family. She later earned a BA in Pan-African Studies from the University of Louisville, an academic background that informs her exploration of intersectionality, cultural identity, and Black womanhood. Working across collage, sculpture, three-dimensional art, and wearable design, Allen produces pieces that explore themes of identity, injustice, personal transformation, and cultural memory. Her work has received the Nancy Pollack Award and is part of private collections across the region as well as in Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Her art is also in the permanent collection of the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. Allen is a member of the Louisville Artisans’ Guild and continues to grow her mixed media practice into fashion and jewelry.

ORIGINAL DESIGN

Cotton fabric, batting, perle cotton thread

32” x 28”

$600

KEN BURNEY

Ken Burney is an American visual artist born in the Metro Detroit area and currently based in Lexington, Kentucky. His early artistic development started with Saturdaymorning art classes at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where his mother introduced him and his brothers to drawing and careful observation. These formative experiences sparked a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. Burney studied illustration, graphic design, and film at City College of San Francisco in the early 1980s. After returning to Detroit, he worked professionally as a graphic designer, developing a disciplined studio practice that still influences his work today. Currently, he works in fine art, public art, and tattooing, primarily using acrylic paint to bridge design and painting’s visual language. His art draws inspiration from Black history, urban culture, music, and Kentucky heritage, reimagined through contemporary and speculative narratives. In 2024, Burney was commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky to create the official Governor’s Derby Celebration Poster for the 150th Kentucky Derby. His painting, Winners, now part of the state Art Collection, was featured in the September 2025 issue of Vogue. Burney’s work explores the connection between history, imagination, and cultural memory, honoring the past while envisioning new possibilities.

KIM DIXON

Kim Dixon is a Lexington, Kentucky–based fiber artist whose work draws on her experiences as an African American woman and her background as an archivist and historian. Through story quilts, cross-stitch, embroidery, and quilting, she combines symbols from the past with reflections on modern American life. Her practice explores the repeating cycles of history while challenging stereotypes about domestic needlework. Dixon uses cloth and thread as storytelling tools, creating layered visual texts that draw from African American history, folklore, and family memory. While her work often feels whimsical, it also includes elements of magical realism and thoughtful critique. By using the familiar language of fiber arts, she encourages viewers to think about deeper cultural and historical themes. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dixon holds a master’s degree in early American and African American History from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Before focusing on her art, she worked as an archivist in Washington, D.C., with institutions including the National Park Service, the National Library of Medicine, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. In 2020, Dixon received her first grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, which led to her first group exhibition at the Living Arts and Science Center in Lexington. She has since received a fellowship from Brown University and continues to exhibit her work both regionally and nationally.

HISTORIOGRAPHY

$20,000

KUDAKWASHE KAGUDU

Kudakwashe Kagudu (Kuda) is a selftaught contemporary visual artist born on March 25, 1999, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Raised in the small town of Gwanda and now based in Harare, he primarily works with acrylics and charcoal. Kagudu started drawing at a young age, and at 12, he was recognized as the third runner-up in the 2011 World Population Day Art Competition, sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe. His work often reflects personal experiences and the rhythms of life within African communities. In a recent series, Kagudu reimagines scenes from Jesus’ life in an African cultural setting. Working in a surrealist style, he incorporates symbolic elements such as flowers, birds, and butterflies to express the emotions and spiritual themes in each scene. Using acrylic paint, he builds his compositions with thin, transparent layers over dry surfaces, adding depth and movement. Kagudu completed a residency at the House of Friends Gallery in Nairobi’s Kibera Art District in January 2025. His work has since been featured in exhibitions in Kenya, the United States, and Zimbabwe, including “Healing and Restorative Justice” at California Lutheran University and “Celebrating the Black Experience” at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.

LARRY HUMPHREY

Larry Humphrey is an artist whose work reflects a deep commitment to observing life and translating personal thoughts and feelings into visual form. Through his paintings, he aims to capture moments of reflection and emotion, creating images that speak to the heart and invite viewers to connect with their own inner experiences. His work emphasizes focus and intention, transforming everyday observations and personal insights into meaningful expressions on canvas. Born in Alabama, Humphrey has been connected to art for as long as he can remember. As a child, he began drawing on cardboard boxes and gradually developed his practice into painting and working with color on canvas. His early inspiration came from his mother, a single parent raising three children, who encouraged him with the words, “You can do anything you want to in life if you put your mind to it.” That message of perseverance and belief continues to shape Humphrey’s artistic journey. Through his work, he strives to share his personal vision while inspiring others to reflect, feel, and discover deeper meaning through art.

STRUGGLES

$20,000

LAWI MUNYESHURE

Lawi Samuel Munyeshure is a visual artist based in Louisville, Kentucky, whose work explores mental health experienced in daily life. Through realistic drawings, he depicts individuals bearing the emotional weight of everyday responsibilities, work, and personal struggles. His art aims to bring visibility to inner states that often go unspoken while honoring the resilience needed to keep moving forward. Munyeshure was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is a survivor of genocide. He spent part of his childhood as a refugee in Burundi before eventually resettling in the United States, where he is now a citizen. These life experiences profoundly influence his artistic perspective and dedication to portraying human endurance and dignity. Working mainly in realism, Munyeshure emphasizes the mental and emotional realities of ordinary life. His drawings highlight the quiet strength found in perseverance and the complex inner worlds that shape people’s daily experiences. Through his work, he strives to create a visual language that recognizes struggle while affirming the humanity and resilience present in every person’s story.

LJ BRYANT

LJ Bryant is a visual artist whose work explores symbolism, spirituality, and emotional depth through a refined monochrome aesthetic. His paintings often feature elegant, simplified subjects that carry layers of meaning beneath their quiet surfaces. Using dramatic light and shadow, Bryant creates figures and landscapes that invite viewers to reflect on their own inner worlds and spiritual experiences. Born in Louisville and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Bryant began developing his artistic voice early on and became a portrait artist by the age of fifteen. His creative journey later expanded beyond portraiture as he continued to explore deeper philosophical and symbolic themes within his work. After serving in the United States Air Force, Bryant pursued formal artistic training at the Art Institutes of Cincinnati and Las Vegas. There, he refined his technical skills while strengthening his intuitive approach to image-making. Through his paintings, Bryant transforms the canvas into a contemplative space where simplicity, symbolism, and emotion come together. His work encourages viewers to look beyond the surface and engage with the spiritual and introspective aspects of the human experience.

DIVINE CONVERGENCE

Acrylic Background and Oil Foreground

48”x 60”

$15,000

MARIYAH HIGGINS

Mariyah is a visual artist based in Louisville, Kentucky, whose work began as an act of self-love and has since evolved into an ongoing reflection on identity, growth, and selfperception. A self-taught artist and lifelong learner, she began painting around 2018 after her child’s birth. During that period, art became a way to cope with postpartum depression and support her mental health. What initially served as personal affirmation soon transformed into a practice that encourages others to see themselves in their highest light. Working mainly with acrylic on canvas, Mariyah uses texture and layered materials like modeling paste and clay to create depth and evoke a more sensory experience. Her work is deeply inspired by women, personal experiences, and influential voices, with a focus on Black and African American bodies—especially women—as symbols of strength, beauty, and reflection. Mariyah’s practice goes beyond traditional canvases into wearable art, including hand-painted shoes, clothing, leather, and fabric pieces. Through these, she explores self-expression across various media. Her artwork has been showcased in exhibitions at Lourae Art Gallery and Roots 101 African American Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

MARTINE DE SOUZA

Martine de Souza is a cultural artist from Ouidah, Benin, West Africa, whose work explores memory, identity, and the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade. The title Cannounmon, meaning “Slaves” in Fongbé, reflects the historical and emotional roots of her artistic practice. Using color, texture, and symbolism, de Souza confronts the history of slavery not as something distant but as a living force that continues to influence collective memory and cultural identity. Born into a complex heritage, de Souza is both a descendant of a slave trader and of enslaved people. Ouidah, often called the “City of the Slave Trade,” was a major departure point where millions of Africans were captured and shipped across the Atlantic. This dual ancestry— marked by both privilege and pain—deeply informs her work and drives her to explore themes of responsibility, reconciliation, and intergenerational trauma. Drawing on African heritage, Vodoun spirituality, oral traditions, and the sacred geography of departure, passage, and return, de Souza creates works that connect the historical and the spiritual. Instead of depicting historical events directly, her paintings evoke the emotional and spiritual echoes of displacement, suffering, resilience, and ancestral wisdom. Through her art, de Souza aims to honor forgotten lives, restore dignity to silenced histories, and foster reflection, healing, and dialogue across generations.

MEGAN GANT

Megan Gant is a visual artist based in Kentucky whose work explores Black identity, faith, and womanhood. Drawing from her personal experience, her paintings depict themes of survival, imagination, and spiritual presence in daily life. Using intimate and symbolic imagery, Gant aims to honor ancestry, resilience, and the ongoing journey of becoming. Her work emphasizes that the sacred can be found in ordinary moments. By merging personal reflection with cultural memory, Gant creates visual stories that celebrate strength, transformation, and the vitality of Black communities. Her paintings often blend vulnerability with empowerment, encouraging viewers to explore deeper emotional and spiritual layers in everyday life. Through her art, Gant presents Black identity as a space influenced by faith, history, and imagination. Each piece reflects lived experience while also honoring the wisdom and endurance carried through generations. Her work ultimately seeks to affirm dignity, inspire thought, and foster connections between personal stories and collective memory.

PRAYER OF THE INNOCENTS

NZINGHA B. SWEENEY-SHEPPARD

Nzingha Beverley Sweeney-Sheppard is a Louisville, Kentucky–based artist and community advocate whose work reflects many aspects of the Black experience—ranging from love and faith to protest and collective resilience. Through her paintings, she captures emotional connections with images, expressions, and gestures, turning feelings into visual art. Born in Louisville, Sweeney-Sheppard moved to New York City in 1967 and later lived in Upstate New York before returning to Louisville in 2003. She has traveled extensively through Europe and Africa, experiences that have influenced her artistic view and cultural understanding. In 2008, she and her husband, Sundiata K.B. Sheppard, founded Nzingha Creations Gallery/Studio in Louisville’s historic Russell neighborhood. The gallery serves as both a creative space and a platform dedicated to supporting emerging artists, particularly young women and artists of color. Sweeney-Sheppard’s work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at Wayside Gallery and the Six Mile Lane YMCA, as well as in group and collaborative shows at the Jewish Community Center, the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Kore Gallery, and Roots 101 African American Museum. One of her pieces honors those lost to police violence. Beyond her art practice, she has served on the boards of the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.

RON BECKHAM

Ron Beckham is an American contemporary artist, designer, and educator who lives and works between North Carolina and Ohio. His artistic practice explores life’s journey through figurative works, landscapes, and stilllife paintings in oil and watercolor. Through drawing and painting, Beckham aims to communicate ideas and emotions that often cannot be expressed with words. His work reflects a strong interest in the relationships between people, nature, and place. Inspired by experiences in diverse environments and cultures, Beckham seeks to capture the essence of his subjects while revealing connections that span communities and landscapes. His paintings distill the rich and observable aspects of contemporary life, prompting viewers to reflect on shared human experiences and the natural world. Beckham earned a B.F.A. in Communication Design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and completed graduate studies in the MFA Illustration program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. There, he studied under influential artists and designers, including Marshall Arisman, Robert Weaver, and Steve Heller, and finished his thesis under Rolling Stone art director Fred Woodward. His work has been exhibited nationally in both solo and group shows and has received recognition from Communication Arts, Print, Graphic Design USA, Artist’s Magazine, and the Society of Illustrators.

$2,500

RONNITA NANCE

Ronnita Nance is a visual artist born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky’s West End. Drawing has been a part of her life since childhood, and her early passion led her to study figure drawing in college, where she built a strong foundation in form and structure. In 2019, she expanded her practice to include acrylic painting, exploring abstract and figurative work. Nance’s paintings are fueled by color, movement, and emotion. Rooted in figure drawing but influenced by abstraction, her work balances structure with freedom and control with intuition. Through her paintings, she releases memories, tension, joy, and quiet moments—expressing feelings often beyond words. Her approach allows each piece to emerge from emotion and lived experience rather than explanation, inviting viewers to connect with the art in their own way. Her work has been exhibited at the John G. Irvin Gallery, Garfield Park Arts Center, Kore Art Gallery, and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. She received second place in the exhibition *What the Eyes Can’t See* at MOSAC and an honorable mention in the Mazin Art Show at the Jewish Community Center. In January 2024, Nance served as the Collider Artist-in-Residence at the Louisville Free Public Library.

FREEDOM OVER ME

Acrylic on Canvas

20”x 20”

$350

SHA-REESE CUNNINGHAM

Sha-Reese Cunningham is a multidisciplinary artist from Louisville, Kentucky, whose work is driven by emotion, spirituality, and personal reflection. For Cunningham, art serves both as a coping mechanism and a powerful form of expression, helping her process frustration with the world while also exploring faith and inner growth. Through her art, she creates imaginative spaces where emotion, resilience, and spiritual connection can be fully expressed. Using a surrealistic approach, Cunningham employs various media to bring her visions to life. Her sculptures often reflect her activist perspective, addressing social issues and contemporary realities, while her paintings explore her connection with the Divine. She describes her creative process as a way of translating spiritual insight and emotional experiences into visual art. A self-taught artist, Cunningham has been creative throughout her life. Although mainly raised in Louisville, she spent part of her teenage years in Atlanta and later lived in Maysville, Kentucky, where she was active in the local art guild and exhibited widely throughout Northern Kentucky. She previously exhibited in the Annual African American Art Show at Actors Theatre and received an Emerging Artist Grant from the Kentucky Arts Council. After resuming her practice in 2025, Cunningham has shown work in several Louisville galleries and juried exhibitions, continuing to develop her creative voice and artistic presence.

SHARARD SADDLERS

Sharard “X” Saddler is a Central Florida–based visual artist and muralist whose work explores movement, legacy, and collective memory through layered compositions inspired by stained-glass design. Born and raised in Florida, he is influenced by the region’s history, communities, and lived experiences. Saddler creates figures and scenes that express motion—walking, reaching, and guiding—to reflect the idea that history is not static but passed down through generations. His process begins with research and sketching, followed by intuitive layering of line, shape, and color. Using fragmentation, bold outlines, and rhythmic patterns, his work suggests both fracture and wholeness, allowing each piece to serve as a visual archive. Working mainly with acrylic and mixed media on wood, canvas, and architectural surfaces, Saddler prefers materials that support strong linework, texture, and durability. His subjects often include Black historical figures, ancestors, and everyday people whose lives demonstrate resilience, strength, and continuity. Self-taught, Saddler developed his style through experimentation, mentorship, and hands-on experience in public art. His work covers fine art, large murals, and mobile public art projects. He has created major civic and transportation artworks across Florida and exhibited in galleries, museums, and community spaces, including the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.

ANCESTRAL ALIGNMENT

17.5”x 53.5”

$4,500

SHEILA FOX

Sheila Fox, known artistically as Godiva Goddess, is a mixed media visual artist based in Louisville, Kentucky. Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and raised in Chicago, her work reflects a blend of Southern heritage and urban cultural influences. A self-taught artist with over twenty-five years of creative exploration, Fox creates richly textured works inspired by curiosity, intuition, and a deep appreciation for materials. Her artistic process combines acrylic paint, oil pastels, fabric, clay, glue, and resin to produce layered compositions that evoke the glow of stained glass and the complexity of mosaic design. Using techniques that incorporate hot glue as a solder-like element, sculpted clay details, and unexpected materials such as stainless-steel scrubbers for textured hair, she constructs vibrant portraits that celebrate elegance, resilience, and adornment. Fox’s background in welding strongly influences her artistic approach, shaping the structural quality of her work and inspiring metallic finishes in bronze, gold, and platinum tones. Vintage fashion, makeup, and hairstyling also inform the style and energy of her pieces. Through a practice rooted in experimentation and storytelling, Fox creates artworks that reflect beauty, strength, and cultural identity. Her work has been exhibited in community shows and private collections, where it continues to gain recognition for its originality and emotional depth.

EMPRESS OF ORBITS

TERESA MCAFEE

Teresa McAfee is a visual artist based in Radcliff, Kentucky, whose work emphasizes the everyday presence and individuality of Black women. Born in Indiana and raised across California, Alaska, and Kentucky, McAfee draws inspiration from the beauty, style, humor, and creative influence of Black women in contemporary culture. Her paintings begin with AI-generated images, which she reinterprets with acrylics and mixed media in a painterly, pop-art–inspired style. Working mainly with pencil and acrylic, McAfee combines precise drawing with expressive color and texture. Some of her works incorporate additional hair elements to create a more tactile, dimensional surface. McAfee’s art highlights moments of ordinary life—laughing, resting, looking away, or simply being present. Instead of depicting her subjects as symbols of strength or struggle, she seeks to capture authentic states of being. Her visual language draws from photography, comics, and pop art, while intentionally leaving space for Black women to appear fully themselves without explanation or performance. Although she studied drawing for 2.5 years at the University of Louisville, McAfee’s practice has largely evolved through self-guided experimentation and repetition. This exhibition marks the beginning of her public artistic journey, reflecting years of silent exploration and a commitment to portraying Black women with honesty, dignity, and freedom.

$1,500

$1,500

ABOUT ELMER LUCILLE ALLEN GALLERY

The main gallery at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is named in honor of Elmer Lucille Allen, a Louisville native whose life embodies excellence in science, art, and community leadership. In 1966, after overcoming significant barriers in her field, Allen became the first African American chemist hired by Brown-Forman. She built a distinguished career in analytical chemistry before retiring in 1996. Following her retirement, Allen fully dedicated herself to the arts, pursuing a lifelong passion for creative expression. At the age of seventy-one, she earned a Master’s degree in Creative Arts from the University of Louisville, focusing on textiles, ceramics, and mixed media. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout Kentucky, reflecting a life that seamlessly blends scientific innovation with artistic exploration.

The Elmer Lucille Allen Gallery also features a bronze bust of Allen sculpted by artist Terri Gilmore, honoring her enduring impact as both an artist and mentor. Through her commitment to learning, creativity, and community, Allen continues to inspire future generations.

The gallery named after her stands as a tribute to her legacy—reminding visitors that curiosity, perseverance, and imagination can shape both art and society.

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Aukram Burton is a photographer, curator, and producer whose work explores cultural connections across the African diaspora and beyond. Over his career, his travels and photographic projects have taken him to Barbados, Brazil, Benin, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nigeria, Panama, Senegal, South Africa, Tibet, and across the United States. Through his images and exhibitions, Burton creates visual narratives that highlight the richness and diversity of human experience.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art, a Master of Education in Instructional Design, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in International Education. Burton also served as a research fellow at the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He has curated numerous exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His projects include ‘Glimpses of the Middle Kingdom’ at the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston, ‘Images from Nigeria’ at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and ‘Journeys Through the African Diaspora’ at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and in Buenaventura, Colombia. In 2023, Burton received a curator travel grant from the Great Meadows Foundation to conduct research in Benin, West Africa, supporting future cultural exchange initiatives. Through his curatorial work, Burton remains dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and fostering global cultural dialogue.

Art allows us to remember, to imagine, and to see ourselves reflected in others’ stories. — Celebrating the Black Experience